Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE18318’

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by yellow flowers and an upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEOE18318’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE18318’. ‘KLEOE18318’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in August to September 2012 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Osteospermum variety ‘OE-2011-0679’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male Osteospermum variety ‘OE-2009-0816’, also known as ‘KLEOE11187’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,034).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEOE18318’ was selected from the group of plants in May 2012 in Stuttgart. In June 2012 in Stuttgart, ‘KLEOE18318’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative terminal cuttings. ‘KLEOE18318’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative terminal cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Yellow flowers     -   2. An upright growth habit; and     -   3. Good branching.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers.

The photograph is of an 8-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2019. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEOE18318’. The data which define these characteristics were collected in Latina, Italy on May 16, 2019 on plants that had been potted in week 45 of 2018 and cultivated in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical.—Osteospermum ecklonis.         -   Common.—Osteospermum.         -   Designation.—‘KLEOE18318’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Osteospermum variety             ‘OE-2011-0679’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Osteospermum variety             ‘KLEOE11187’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,034). -   Plant:     -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated             as an annual; not frost resistant.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Branching habit.—Normal.         -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—32.0 cm.         -   Width (including inflorescences).—35.0 cm.         -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings; vegetative terminal tip             cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—9 weeks.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine and white, RHS 155A. -   Stems:     -   -   Total number of branches per plant (calculated at the base             of the plant).—9.         -   Length.—28.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 138B.         -   Texture.—Smooth but with fine hairs.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature color.—Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS             146B.         -   Mature color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS             146A.         -   Length.—5.4 cm.         -   Width.—1.8 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Leathery             with fine hairs.         -   Petioles.—Absent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 137D. Lower surface: RHS             137C. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Round-ovoid.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.1 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS             137D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Single.         -   Blooming habit.—Upright, with longer flower stems.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—12.         -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 15             days.         -   Fragrance.—Present.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—7.0 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—1.0 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—1.3 cm. -   Disc floret:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—22.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 12A. Mature: RHS 9A.         -   Length.—0.7 cm.         -   Diameter (at apex).—0.2 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Apex color.—RHS 92A.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Base color.—RHS 10B.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Ray floret:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—23.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 12B. Lower surface: RHS 12A.         -   Length.—3.6 cm.         -   Width.—1.0 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth,             shiny. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth with hairs.         -   Color.—RHS 137A. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Observed quantity per flower.—16.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—1.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth with fine hairs. Lower             surface: Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137C. Lower surface: RHS 139B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Location: On disc and ray florets. Stamens:             Shape: Filamentous. Quantity: Numerous, 70 to 100. Filament             length: 0.7 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape:             Lanceolate. Color: RHS N92A. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter:             0.1 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 25A. Amount: Moderate.         -   Gynoecium.—Location: On the phyllary. Pistils: Number:             Numerous, 50 to 70. Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.             Stigma: Color: RHS 18D. Shape: Tapering filamentous and             split in two parts. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Style:             Color: RHS 156D. Length: 0.4 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed to date. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEOE18318’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEOE18318’ ‘OE-2011-0679’ ‘OE-2009-0816’ Earliness Early Medium early Medium early Branching Good Medium Good

‘KLEOE18318’ is most similar to the commercial Osteospermum variety ‘Flower Power Pink’ (KLEOE17007). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEOE18318’ ‘Flower Power Pink’ Flower color Yellow Pink Earliness Early Very Early 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant designated ‘KLEOE18318’ as illustrated and described herein. 